The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Oegema oversaw construction of new high school
By Alana West
PUBLISHED: May 3, 2007
With his retirement approaching in June, Manchester Schools Superintendent David Oegema is pleased that the district is in good condition for his successor.
Advertisement
"This is a nice district to come into and improve," he said. "The buildings are in good shape. The curriculum is in good shape. We're OK. We still have a 10 percent fund equity, which will take care of emergencies."
Oegema said that cuts already have been made to balance the budget, so the new superintendent will be able to start in relatively good financial shape.
"We've made cuts people don't like, but no matter what cuts we make, they won't like it," he said.
Oegema said he will miss many people he has met over the years, as well as the teaching staff and school board members.
"It has been an enjoyable experience here," he said.
In the past seven years in Manchester, Oegema said his ability to oversee the construction and expansion at the schools and bus garage, as well as construction of the new high school, have been important achievement.
He said the next superintendent should consider three priorities for the district: curriculum, finances and public relations.
"The issues are changing," he said. "There is less that a school can do; more challenges."
Oegema said that when his generation attended school, parents did not take the side of the child over the word of school authorities in instances of wrongdoing, as he said some tend to do now.
"So, we have video cameras," he said.
The cameras help protect both the students and the school buildings, he said.
Oegema has served in several school districts during his career. He began at St. John's Middle School in Holt as a counselor and algebra teacher. He furthered his career as director of pupil personnel at the Parkway School District near St. Louis, Mo.
"I was looking for an administrative position," he said. Mainly, Oegema said, because he wanted to impact the decisions made in school districts.
"I looked at Illinois and Ohio, and then I looked a little bit farther," he said.
Parkway had 32 schools in its district, with 17 elementary schools, four middle schools and four high schools. Oegema coordinated the work of 100 employees during his employment there.
"I was there for three years, but it was too far for my family and friends," he said. "I came back (to Michigan)."
Oegema and his wife, Flo, who is a retired teacher, have two children, Jim and Theresa, and three grandchildren, Evelyn, Evan and Ellie. Flo also has relatives in Michigan. Five of Oegema's siblings have gone on to work for the state of Michigan. One brother is a professor of biochemistry at the University of Illinois in Chicago. So to live closer to his close-knit family, Oegema sought employment as a high school principal and assistant superintendent at Perry school and later as Manchester's superintendent.
Oegema has four degrees from Michigan State University, including a bachelor's, two master's in counseling and administration, and a doctorate in education. He was his class valedictorian and honor society president, and was involved in sports.
Before Oegema left high school, he knew education was his career of choice.
"I was actually a member of the Future Teachers Club," he said.
Oegema said he is looking forward to retirement. He has purchased a home on Squaw Lake in Fenton. He said he hopes his kids come up and visit often and enjoy the lake.He isn't quite ready for volunteer work yet as he wants to kick back a little and enjoy life.
"This is all new to us. We don't know what will happen," he said. "I always thought I would work until I was 66 or 67, but I want to enjoy more of life."
Oegema said his father had a heart attack at 62, and didn't get a chance to enjoy retirement. As a result, he wants to live for every moment.
"I want to enjoy gardening, build a garage in the new place," he said.
Despite his extensive background in education, Oegema said doesn't plan on getting involved any further in the field.
"I'm not going to run for school board," he said. "There are too many problems in education, and it's not looking better."
But after thinking it over again, he said he might change his mind.
"I could try to improve it, make some changes," he said.
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
TOP JOBS
